Yes, I was enjoying the food. Perhaps a little too much? Yesterday I felt debil –meaning I was bedridden with a debilitating tiredness, stemming probably from dehydration (a factor of the nine hours spent on a bus Sunday … didn’t want to have to pee!). I slept most of yesterday, thought the worst was over, but then was struck with “traveler’s sickness” … I needn’t elaborate. A few Immodium later, I’m up and around–oh the irony!–the town of Banos*.
My brother commented that tourist towns in South and Central America are a lot like Austin. Puzzled, I asked him to explain, and he emphasized two main points: the local businesses striving to carve a niche out for themselves, and the general attitude of play and relaxation, rather than busy-busy working. It makes some sense, but it’s also a simplification of all that is Austin. In Austin, local stores fight for their place; here, local stores are all that can exist, because it cuts into Wal-Mart’s profit margins to ship their goods over mountains and through valleys to get to the Amazon. In Austin, a person works hard so they can play hard; here, while people are certainly more relaxed than in the US, they have to work to ensure that tourists can relax. They may relax as well, but not by visiting the US.
Tengo que irme …
*Banos means both bath and bathrooms in Spanish … this town is named for its natural hot spring baths.